Shoe tree



Feb. 28, 1933. c. A. BATCHELDER SHOE TREE Filed Feb. 19, 1932 a cheldew;

Charles Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES CHARLES A. BATCHELITER, OF ST. ALBANS, MAINE SHOE TREE Application filed February 19, 1932. SeriaI No. 594,095.

This invention relates to shoe trees and more particularlyto a novel adjustable connection between the sections thereof.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a connecting device which iseasy to make and assemble, and whichwhen assembled will perform the dual function of connecting the two sections for adjustment purposes and also prevent the complete separation thereof. 7

\Nith the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the'accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the improvements embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figures 3 and 4 are respective Views of the parts of the adjustable connection.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

The shoe tree embodying the present invention includes the heel section A and the toe section B, the same being adjustably connected by the fastening unit designated generally as C.

The heel section A is provided with the guideway 1 extending longitudinally thereof and is cut away as indicated at 2 to provide a recess or chamber for accommodating a part of the adjustment means and permitting convenient access thereto. The toe section B is formed with a longitudinal slot 3 opening at the top thereof and is also provided at its underside with a ventilatingichamber 4 whose upper wall 5 is provided with a plurality of v ventilating openings 6-6and a single relatively large ventilating opening 7. a

The adjustable fastening unit C includes in its organization an arm 8 provided with a pivot receiving opening 9 and a longitudinal slot 10 while one edge thereof is provided with a'plurality of keeper teeth 11. r The said arm '8 may be fitted to the toe member B'by placing the end thereof having the opening 9 in the slot 3 and inserting a pin 9a transversely of the body of the toe section thereby to pivotally lock the arm therein. The rear end 8a of the arm is adapted to be slidably mountedin the guideway 1 so that the arm 8 thereby serves to properly aline the sections A andB. v j I The fastening G alsoincludes a latch member designated generally as 12 and provided at one side with a finger engaging ear 13 while the opposite side is provided with a reduced spring centering portion or port 14.

The edge of the body of the latch between the parts 13 and 14: is provided with an offset keeper tongue 15 and the portion of the body opposite the tongue is provided with an opening 16 for receiving a pivot pin 17. Thispin is inserted in the heel section through the slot 10 so that the pin 17 thereby becomes the means for fastening the two sections of the device together while at the same time limiting the maximum relative movement thereof.

The heel section A is provided at the bottomof the recess 2 with a spring socket 18' adapted to receive a coil spring 19 whose upper end receives the centering port 14 of the so latch 12- When the parts are assembled, as shown in Figure 2, it will'be apparent that the spring 18 normally urges the latch 12' upwardly so that the keeper tongue 15 will engage the teeth 11 of the arm 8. Also, when the sections a and Z) are in contact the pin'17 will belocated at the forward end of the slot 10. When it is desired to adjust one section with reference to the other 'it is only necessaryto depress the latch 12 by exerting finger pressure at the ear 13, thereby to compress the spring 18 and disengage the keeper tongue 15 from theteeth 11.2 The'sections may be then moved the desired distance away from each other and upon release of finger pressure the latch will become interlocked with the arm and thereby hold thesections in their correctly adjusted position. v 1 r t The arm 8 isone of the distinctive features of theinvention sinceit not only pivotally connects the two sections so that one may swing with reference to the other for the purpose of fitting them in the shoe, but at the same time the arm keeps the two sections alined in their sliding or adjusting movement, and also with the aid of the pivot pin 17 for the latch and the slot 10, keeps the two sections from coming apart. For maintaining the sections A and B in proper alinement, an abutment 20 may be placed across the slot 3 so that the bottom edge of the'arm 8 will rest thereagainst, as shown in Figure 4.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention. and scope of the appended claims. Y v

I claim:

1. A shoe tree including heel and toe sections, said sections respectively having a guideway and a slot, an arm pivotallycon-,

nected to the section having the slot and also having its end opposite the pivotal connection adapted to slide in said guideway, said arm being provided with a slot and having teeth at one edge thereof, a latch having a finger engaging ear and a spring centering post, a spring fitted in a socket inthe heel member and adapted to normally urge said latch into locking relation with theteeth of the arm, and a pivot pin for connecting the latch to the heel section through the slot in the arm.

2. In a shoe tree including sections respectively provided with a slot and a guideway, an arm pivotally connected to the section having the slot and the forward end of said arm being slidable in said guideway of the other section, said arm having a slot in the intermediate portion thereof and keeper teeth in the edge thereof below the slot, a spring pressedlatch mounted on a pin carried by the section having the guideway; said-pin riding in the slot in the arm, a tongue on the latch, and a spring for moving the latch whereby the tongue will engage with the'teeth of the arm.

3. A shoe tree comprising heel and toe'sections, said heel section havinga laterally open recess and a rearwardly extending guideway, and said toe section havlng a slot opening through the top thereof, an arm consisting of aflat strip pivoted in said slot, and also adapted to enter the guideway of the heel section, -teeth formed in the lower edge of the arm and said arm'having a slot therein above thet'eeth, a latch pivoted 'to the heel section and having its pivot lying in the slot of'the arm, said latch also being located in the said recess ofzthe heel section, a tongue on the latch for engaging the-teeth on the arm and a spring for urging the latch in a direction 7 CHARLES A. BATCHELDER. 

